Of 338 regular elections in Montana—153 (45%) are uncontested. An uncontested election is one where the number of candidates on the ballot is less than or equal to the number of seats up for election. 

Of the 26 states where Ballotpedia is covering every election on Nov. 5, Montana has the 20th highest rate of uncontested elections. 

There are at least 23 office types up for election in Montana this year. 

Treasurer, district attorney, and assessor have the highest rate of uncontested elections at 100%. Elections for the office of local judge have the next highest uncontested rate at 90%, followed by clerk at 89%.

Governor, mayor, state supreme court justice, chief state supreme court justice, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, superintendent of schools, sheriff, and attorney have the highest rate of contested elections at 100%. The next highest contested office type in Montana is U.S. representative and state representative at 87%, followed by U.S. senator and state senator at 85%.

Montana has a Republican trifecta, meaning Republicans control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature. Among states with Republican trifectas, 64% of elections are uncontested and 36% are contested. Those rates for Democratic trifectas are 55% and 45%, respectively. In states with a divided government, 56% of elections are uncontested and 44% are contested. 

Through October 2024, Ballotpedia has covered 36,068 elections in 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four territories in 2024 alone. Of that total, 27,164 (75%) were uncontested and 8,904 (25%) were contested. To learn more about this analysis, click here!